Structural, electrical and dielectric properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3–ErMnO3 multiferroic composites

A different kind of multiferroics with composite character has been studied. Detailed study on electrical and dielectric properties of structurally characterized multiferroic composites xLa0.7Sr0.3MnO3–(1 − x)ErMnO3 (where, x = 0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 1), prepared through chemical ‘pyrophoric reaction’ technique, have been presented. Average particle size of the composites is found to be in nanometric region. Both structural and magnetic studies confirm almost complete immiscibility within the mixture of two compounds of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and ErMnO3 having nearly identical chemical formula. Impedance value is found to be decreased with increasing La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 content in the composites that can be attributed to the improved electrical connectivity in the sample. Dielectric study reveals that pure ErMnO3, 0.1La0.7Sr0.3MnO3–0.9ErMnO3 and 0.15La0.7Sr0.3MnO3–0.85ErMnO3 composites exhibiting ferroelectric relaxor behavior, whereas 0.2La0.7Sr0.3MnO3–0.8ErMnO3 composite is found to be strongly diffusive ferroelectric sample. Appearance of a distinct hump in dielectric constant of 0.1La0.7Sr0.3MnO3–0.9ErMnO3 composite at the vicinity of para-ferromagnetic transition temperature may be due to some sort of magneto-electric coupling in these composites.